US5993424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Guidewire having a distal tip that can change its shape within a vessel
Assignee: Cordis US Corp
•
Filing: 1997-02-21
•
Granted: 1999-11-30
•
Expires: 2017-02-21
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention there is provided a guidewire for navigating through body vessels. The guidewire has a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The guidewire includes an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the tube is a flexible distal tip having a smooth closed distal end. The guidewire further includes a core wire having distal and proximal ends. The core wire distal end is elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto. The core wire can slide longitudinally within the tube between a retracted position, where the core wire distal end is proximal to the flexible distal tip. In the retracted position the tube applies sufficient stress to deform the core wire distal end. The core wire also slides to an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by the flexible distal tip. Placing the core wire in the extended position removes the stress so that said core wire distal end and the flexible distal tip assume the preformed shape.
Inventors
- 👤 Juan A. Lorenzo
- 👤 Carol Barbre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M25/09016; A61M25/09025; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0152; A61M2025/09058; A61M2025/09083; A61M2025/09091; A61M2025/09133; A61M2025/09141; A61M2025/09175; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/02; A61M2205/0266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: a) an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said tube comprising a flexible distal tip; b) a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said core wire distal end being elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto, said core wire can slide longitudinally and rotate within said tube between a retracted position, where said core wire distal end is proximal to said flexible distal tip and said tube applies sufficient stress to deform said core wire distal end, and an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by said flexible distal tip, thereby removing said stress so that said core wire distal end and said flexible distal tip assume said preformed shape; and c) a means for limiting the distance that said flexible distal tip of said core wire can be retracted into said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: a) an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said tube comprising a flexible distal tip; b) a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said core wire distal end being elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto, said core wire can slide longitudinally and rotate within said tube between a retracted position, where said core wire distal end is proximal to said flexible distal tip and said tube applies sufficient stress to deform said core wire distal end, and an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by said flexible distal tip, thereby removing said stress so that said core wire distal end and said flexible distal tip assume said preformed shape; and c) a means for limiting the distance that said flexible distal tip of said core wire can be retracted into said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said flexible distal tip has a smooth closed distal end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 further including a means for preventing said distal end of said core wire from extending distal to said flexible distal tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip of said core wire has a preformed shape which is at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said guidewire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip of said core wire comprises a superelastic alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The guidewire of claim 5 wherein said superelastic alloy comprises of about 40 to about 49% titanium and the balance of the alloy being nickel and up to 10% of other alloying elements selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, vanadium and copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said distal end of said guidewire tapers distally.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said flexible distal tip of said guidewire comprises a coiled spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
238 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: a) an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said outer tube comprising a flexible distal tip, said distal tip having an open distal end; b) a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said core wire distal end being elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto, said core wire can slide longitudinally and rotate within said tube between a retracted position, where said core wire distal end is proximal to said flexible distal tip and said tube applies sufficient stress to deform said core wire distal end, and an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by said flexible distal tip, thereby removing said stress so that said core wire distal end and said flexible distal tip assume said preformed shape, said core wire distal end being proximal to said flexible tip distal end in its extended position; d) a fluid port on said proximal end of said guidewire, and a channel within said guidewire providing fluid communication between said fluid port and said distal end of said flexible distal tip; e) a means for limiting the distance that said flexible distal tip of said core wire can be retracted into said tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
238 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: a) an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said outer tube comprising a flexible distal tip, said distal tip having an open distal end; b) a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said core wire distal end being elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto, said core wire can slide longitudinally and rotate within said tube between a retracted position, where said core wire distal end is proximal to said flexible distal tip and said tube applies sufficient stress to deform said core wire distal end, and an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by said flexible distal tip, thereby removing said stress so that said core wire distal end and said flexible distal tip assume said preformed shape, said core wire distal end being proximal to said flexible tip distal end in its extended position; d) a fluid port on said proximal end of said guidewire, and a channel within said guidewire providing fluid communication between said fluid port and said distal end of said flexible distal tip; e) a means for limiting the distance that said flexible distal tip of said core wire can be retracted into said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guidewire according to claim 9 further including a means for preventing said distal end of said core wire from extending distal to said flexible distal tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The guidewire according to claim 9 wherein said distal tip of said core wire has a preformed shape which is at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said guidewire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidewire according to claim 9 wherein said distal tip of said core wire comprises a superelastic alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The guidewire of claim 12 wherein said superelastic alloy comprises of about 40 to about 49% titanium and the balance of the alloy being nickel and up to 10% of other alloying elements selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, vanadium and copper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidewire according to claim 9 wherein said distal end of said guidewire tapers distally.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidewire according to claim 9 wherein said flexible distal tip of said guidewire comprises a coiled spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The guidewire according to claim 9 further including a seal, proximal to said fluid port so as to prevent fluid communication between said fluid port and said proximal end of said guidewire.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
237 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: a) an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said outer tube comprising a flexible distal tip attached to said distal end of said outer tube and extending distally thereto, said distal tip comprising a coiled spring; b) a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said core wire distal end being elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto, said core wire can slide longitudinally and rotate within said tube between a retracted position, where said core wire distal end is proximal to said flexible distal tip and said tube applies sufficient stress to deform said core wire distal end, and an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by said flexible distal tip, thereby removing said stress so that said core wire distal end and said flexible distal tip assume said preformed shape, said core wire distal end being proximal to said flexible tip distal end in its extended position; and c) means for preventing said distal end of said core wire from extending distal to said flexible distal tip, and a means for limiting the distance that said flexible distal tip of said core wire can be retracted into said tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
237 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: a) an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said outer tube comprising a flexible distal tip attached to said distal end of said outer tube and extending distally thereto, said distal tip comprising a coiled spring; b) a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said core wire distal end being elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto, said core wire can slide longitudinally and rotate within said tube between a retracted position, where said core wire distal end is proximal to said flexible distal tip and said tube applies sufficient stress to deform said core wire distal end, and an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by said flexible distal tip, thereby removing said stress so that said core wire distal end and said flexible distal tip assume said preformed shape, said core wire distal end being proximal to said flexible tip distal end in its extended position; and c) means for preventing said distal end of said core wire from extending distal to said flexible distal tip, and a means for limiting the distance that said flexible distal tip of said core wire can be retracted into said tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The guidewire according to claim 17 wherein said distal tip of said core wire has a preformed shape which is at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said guidewire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidewire according to claim 17 wherein said distal tip of said guidewire tapers distally.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidewire according to claim 17 wherein said core wire distal end is made from a superelastic alloy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The guidewire of claim 20 wherein said superelastic alloy comprises of about 40 to about 49% titanium and the balance of the alloy being nickel and up to 10% of other alloying elements selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, vanadium and copper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4643194A
Cited
US5067957A
Cited
US4676249A
Cited
US5143085A
Cited
US4779628A
Cited
US4895168A
Cited
US4873983A
Cited
EP0363661A1
Cited
US5040543A
Cited
EP0480427A1
Cited
US5211636A
Cited
US5389073A
Cited
US5489270A
Cited
EP0646364A1
Cited
US5419340A
Cited
EP0739641A1
Cited
EP0778043A1
Cited
EP0823261A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-29 | 2003-05-31 | 2003-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-29 | 2007-05-31 | 2007-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-29 | 2011-05-31 | 2011-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |